Shopping Obsession: Finding Joy Beyond Wardrobing

The Gita’s path to sustainable shopping

Shopping Obsession: Finding Joy Beyond Wardrobing — Image by Author

Dear readers,

we live in an era of unprecedented excess and waste.

Have you ever succumbed to the temptation of filling your virtual cart with clothes and accessories that, once you got home, didn’t fully convince you?

An elegant dress for a special dinner, a trendy pair of shoes seen on Instagram, an accessory that promised to give a touch of originality to your outfit…

In a world dominated by haste and the illusion of infinite choice, we have become accustomed to purchasing with a simple click, without reflecting on the true cost of this convenience.

E-commerce

E-commerce has revolutionized the way we shop. From crowded shop windows to the comfortable walls of a home, we can order anything at any time, with the promise of fast and often free delivery. The ease of purchase has become the rule, reflection the exception.

But this ease comes at a price. And it’s not just the cost of the products we buy, but also the environmental and social impact of a consumption system based on disposability.

Wardrobing

One of the most worrying phenomena linked to fashion e-commerce is “wardrobing”. The term, which derives from the combination of the English words “wardrobe” and “robbing,” indicates the practice of ordering clothes online, using them for a short period, and then returning them without any problem.

The motivations behind wardrobing are diverse. Some do it to try expensive garments without having to buy them, those who want a perfect outfit for a special occasion without investing too much, and those with chronic dissatisfaction.

Whatever the reason, wardrobing has negative consequences. First of all, it generates an enormous waste of resources. Garments that are ordered and then returned often don’t get put back on sale and end up being destroyed.

Moreover, wardrobing harms the environment. The shipments and returns of online products have a significant impact on air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Vedanta

This phenomenon represents the very antithesis of the concepts of sannyasa and tyaga, the fundamental pillars of Vedanta philosophy. Allow me to explain how these precious teachings can help us navigate the current climate of rampant consumerism more consciously.

Let’s begin with sannyasa, which the Bhagavad Gita defines as “the renunciation of action prompted by desire.” 

How can we apply this principle to our daily lives? It’s simple: we must learn to curb our consumerist impulses and distinguish between true needs and fleeting wants.

Sannyasa

How many times have we found ourselves ordering something online simply because a clever advertising campaign awakened a sudden “craving” within us? How often have we succumbed to the allure of a discount or special offer, only to end up with useless and forgotten items after just a few weeks?

The practice of purchasing and returning goods at will is the epitome of action motivated by desire. It’s a vicious cycle of instant gratification and perpetual dissatisfaction. Sannyasa instead invites us to renounce this compulsive behaviour, to pause, and to truly reflect on our authentic needs, forsaking desire-ridden actions.

But we can’t stop there. Tyaga, the second pillar of Vedanta philosophy, exhorts us to relinquish the fruits of our actions. 

How does this translate into our present-day reality?

“But even these actions should be performed, setting aside attachment and the desire for rewards, O Arjuna; this is my certain and most assured conviction.”

(Bhagavad Gita)

Tyaga

When we make a purchase, we should do so to fully utilize and benefit from it, but without obsessively clinging to results or expectations. 

Too often, we are carried away by the euphoria of a new acquisition, only to be disappointed when the item fails to meet our unrealistic expectations.

Tyaga teaches us instead to undertake our actions with commitment but without attachment. To purchase wisely means being willing to accept that an item may not meet our expectations and to face that eventuality with equanimity.

“Whatever obligatory action is done, O Arjuna, merely because it ought to be done, abandoning attachment and also the desire for reward, that renunciation is regarded as sattvic (pure).”

(Bhagavad Gita)

Responsible

When we approach purchases with this mindset, we become more responsible and conscious consumers. We are no longer slaves to our fleeting cravings but act with a clear purpose and an open mind.

Moreover,

“Indeed, it is not possible for an embodied being to completely abandon actions; however, he who relinquishes the rewards of actions is truly called a man of renunciation.”

In our earthly existence, we cannot simply cease consuming or interacting with the material world. But we can choose to do so more consciously and sustainably, avoiding excess and unnecessary waste.

Embracing

By embracing the principles of sannyasa and tyaga, we can transform our relationship with consumerism from a compulsive dependency to a more balanced and respectful interaction. Instead of chasing transient desires and unrealistic expectations, we can focus on our authentic needs and fully appreciate what we have.

In a world where purchasing and returning goods has become a game without rules, the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita shines as a luminous guide. It reminds us that true freedom resides not in accumulating possessions but in liberating ourselves from the illusion that they can bring lasting happiness.

And…so?

So, the next time we are tempted to order something solely to satisfy a passing whim, let us remember Sannyasa and Tyaga. 

Let us renounce actions prompted by desire and relinquish attachment to the fruits of our actions. Only then can we rediscover true fulfilment in simplicity and appreciation for what truly matters.

Allow me to leave you with these inspired words from the Bhagavad Gita:

 “The man of renunciation, pervaded by purity, intelligent, and with his doubts cut asunder, does not hate an unpleasant task nor is he attached to a pleasant one.” 

May this wisdom guide us towards a more conscious, balanced, and fulfilling life, free from the chains of excess and waste.

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